[gualbert]

It seems the french-speaker and the dutch-speaker can't stand each other anymore.
Or at least, they don't wan't to live in the same country.

[Lurker]

What do you mean exactly? Is the country going to split? Please provide links.

[gualbert]

No link, that's an impression I got when I watch the news.

There was a serious crisis a few years ago, but now it seems to get worse.
An example: in administrations, people who speak both french and dutch are not welcome, because they should be paid more (even though It can be useful).

[Lurker]

You're Belgian? What do you speak?


Are there identifiable areas that mainly speak one of the two languages?

[space]

oh, dear gawd, please think of the waffles!

[Lurker]

Maybe they are thinking of the waffles.

[gualbert]

Originally Posted by Lurker

You're Belgian? What do you speak?

No I'm french.
And I speak french.

You know Belgium is important. It's like, the core of Europe.
And Europe does matter (eh? eh?).

Are there identifiable areas that mainly speak one of the two languages?

Yes, they have their own compound/ghettos.

[demonrail666]

people don't think enough about the waffles.

[Lurker]

Originally Posted by gualbert

You know Belgium is important. It's like, the core of Europe.
And Europe does matter (eh? eh?).

What? I don't think Belgium isn't important. And yeah of course it's important for the European Union.

[Lurker]

Originally Posted by gualbert

Yes, they have their own compound/ghettos.

Er... you're taking the piss. But if there aren't areas where one language is predominantly spoken, then it's going to be difficult for Belgium to split.

[TheFoxBen]

Why do you get this impression ? I'm asking because I think it's basically impossible for the country to split, for financial matters alone. And, besides that, what would Brussels become ? It wouldn't last as an independant state... Moreover, the tensions between flemish and walloons aren't THAT bad, it's not like if there was a civil war or something... They would never let the country split, we just have to try standing each other because it won't change.

[o o o]

Originally Posted by Lurker

Are there identifiable areas that mainly speak one of the two languages?

here's a small summary:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/europe/10227430.stm

Belgium is a country divided.

The southern region is home to mostly French speakers, who make up about 40% of the population. The other 60% are Dutch speakers who live in the Flemish north.

To add confusion, the capital Brussels is officially a bilingual (but largely francophone) enclave in Flemish territory.

The linguistic gulf runs deep. There are no national political parties - they too follow the language split, so there are both francophone and Flemish Liberal, Socialist, Christian Democrat and Green parties.

Likewise, there are no national broadcasters, no national newspapers or magazines.

Autonomy push
The Belgian state is already highly decentralised. Education, health, and transport are all the responsibility of powerful regional parliaments.

To make the system work, politicians from both communities have to co-operate. But in recent years that co-operation has broken down.

Some politicians from the wealthier Flemish region are pushing for even more autonomy, for example by taking control of the social security system.

French speakers from the more impoverished south fear that would mean the country breaking up.

These elections were called when - for the third time in as many years - the government collapsed.

The trigger was a complex argument over voting rights for French speakers living in Flemish towns on the outskirts of Brussels.

They have been allowed to vote for French language parties in the Brussels region, even though they live in a Flemish area.

The Constitutional Court ruled that was illegal. But all attempts to find a compromise have failed.

There is actually also a German-speaking community/region in the east of the country, but it's really small and part of the Walloon (French-speaking) region, from what I understand...

the three main regions look like this:

 

[Lurker]

Originally Posted by o o o

here's a small summary:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/europe/10227430.stm

Thanks

[gualbert]

Originally Posted by TheFoxBen

the tensions between flemish and walloons aren't THAT bad,

I've heard the wallons don't want to pay social welfare for the flemish (and/or vice versa)
If the country split, it's gonna be a mess. Don't know how it will affect the EU..

Are you very attached to your country as it is now?

[TheFoxBen]

Originally Posted by gualbert

I've heard the wallons don't want to pay social welfare for the flemish (and/or vice versa)
If the country split, it's gonna be a mess. Don't know how it will affect the EU..

Are you very attached to your country as it is now?

I wouldn't say I am VERY attached to my country but yeah, I certainly don't want it to split ! All I'm trying to say is that people shouldn't worry about that because it's practically impossible that it happens and even if it does, it wouldn't happen overnight. They said the same thing about 3 or 4 years ago and they even did a fake breaking news report called "Bye Bye Belgium" (it's on youtube I think) saying that the country had split but I don't really feel that the situation's worse right now... But we sure are in a political mess these days, it was voting day today so I guess we'll see.

[gualbert]

Well, you have Michel Daerden.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6icNu70hx9o

A popular politician, it is said.

[o o o]

My brother has been living for several years in Brussels now (he's not Belgian) and is quite pessimistic about the future of the country, and keep telling us examples/anecdotes about tensions between the two communities, but the whole situation remains difficult to comprehend for someone who does not live in Belgium...

However, in the end, I get the impression that it is the politicians that have exacerbated this situation, and if minorities are calling for the country to split, the majority does not want it to happen... Plus, one thing I gather, is that the status of Brussels is indeed one question that complicates the actual splitting of the country.

I don't much about this situation, so I may be talking total bullshit - if that is the case, you are of course welcome to correct me...

[wellcharge]

who would have figured a country with french people in it would have separation anxiety(!) i assume the belgian french are just like the quebecois, a bunch of unemployed,fashion magazine obsessed francophones who like to sit around all day having little frenchy chats and murdering the mothers of good hardworking,anglais speaking people

am i right?

[TheFoxBen]

Originally Posted by wellcharge

who would have figured a country with french people in it would have separation anxiety(!) i assume the belgian french are just like the quebecois, a bunch of unemployed,fashion magazine obsessed francophones who like to sit around all day having little frenchy chats and murdering the mothers of good hardworking,anglais speaking people

am i right?

No, we are not like that... In Brussels at least.

[wellcharge]

Originally Posted by TheFoxBen

No, we are not like that... In Brussels at least.

just a mean joke, stereotypically the french like to make them but can't stand it from the other side(i like french canadians more than english to be honest but canada is boring and i can't play hockey so if i don't tease the french there's nothing to do )